Latest Articles about politics
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Belarus-Minsk-House_of_Government_and_Vladimir_Lenin_Monument-1-640x436.jpg)
Ostracizing Minsk May Not Be in the West’s Interests
Executive Summary: The political rigidity associated with Western reactions to Minsk has limited any positive impact and is now sacrificing the “strategic foundation of Belarus’s statehood” on the altar of “present-day concerns.” Official Minsk has limited economic options due to Western sanctions, leading to a... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/georgian-dream-flag-640x427.jpg)
Russia Baits Georgia With Return of Occupied Territories in Run-Up to Parliamentary Elections
Executive Summary: Fears that Russia will interfere in Georgia’s October 2024 parliamentary election are increasing following the appointment of a new pro-Kremlin special representative of the Georgian prime minister who oversees relations with Russia. In recent years, the ruling elite of Georgia have been using informal... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/putin-wins-election-640x395.jpg)
Russian Hopes and Fears Post ‘Election’
Executive Summary: Russia’s recent presidential “elections” are likely to mark a turning point in President Vladimir Putin’s behavior at home, abroad, and toward those Russians who oppose him. While optimists may hope he will use his unchallenged power to make peace and reduce repression, many... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-640x444.jpg)
The National People’s Congress Exposes Xi Jinping’s Problems
Executive Summary: Li Qiang’s government work report offered no significant incentives to help the nation’s three sectors most in need of government support. Economic targets were practically identical to those for 2023 but will be harder to achieve. Xi amassed more power through sidelining Li... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/belarus-transit-corridor-train-640x390.png)
Logistical Semi-Blockade Undermines Strategic Foundations of Belarusian Statehood
Executive Summary: Belarus plays an essential geostrategic role in the logistical transport networks between Asia and Europe through the “Northern Corridor,” which passes through Russia and Belarus. Although Western sanctions due to the war in Ukraine have negatively affected the volume of transport through the... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/georgia-worried-russia-meddling-elections-640x427.jpg)
Russian Influence in Georgia Ahead of Critical Elections
Executive Summary: Georgia is experiencing the effects of Russia’s soft power through the presence of pro-Russian organizations, media outlets, and parties that assert closer ties to Moscow will settle disagreements between the two countries. Recent polls have indicated that a significant segment of Georgian society... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1915051710_0_13_3072_1741_640x0_80_0_0_5cf04043ea27cf974c8cf0b41bc38975.jpg.webp)
Presidential ‘Elections’ Cannot Restore Putin’s Authority
Executive Summary: Russia will hold presidential elections this week in an attempt to demonstrate the population’s sustained loyalty to President Vladimir Putin and support for his war. On the battlefield, Moscow’s primary tactic of mobilizing massive amounts of weapons and manpower is... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-belarus-parliamentary-elections-640x358.jpg)
Belarus’s Parliamentary Elections and Opposition Prospects
Executive Summary: Belarus’s government outlawed opposition parties in anticipation of last week’s parliamentary election, contrasting previous elections that had offered a platform for opposition parties to spread their views. Oppositionists have primarily been forced into exile, which raises doubts about how effectively they can communicate... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/irakli-kobakhidze-march-1-2024-640x426.jpg)
Georgia Looks to Build Strategic Partnerships With European Union and China
Executive Summary: New Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze is playing a delicate balancing act of attempting to gain EU membership while reproaching the United States in public statements. Kobakhidze’s strategy toward the West resembles the Kremlin’s approach: divide the West into two camps, Europe and... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/dont-legitimize-putin-640x395.jpg)
Putin’s Political Machinations Delegitimize Russian Presidential Elections
Executive Summary: Russia is scheduled to hold presidential elections from March 15 to 17, which will predictably result in the reelection of President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin is doing everything in its power to prevent opposition figures from gaining traction in presidential elections, including preventing... MORE